How many people died on the Sunshine Skyway?
35 people
Photos: Sunshine Skyway Bridge disaster 1980 The Summit Venture sits in Tampa Bay with part of the Sunshine Skyway on its deck in 1980. The ship crashed into the bridge, killing 35 people on May 9, 1980.
What happened on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge?
In May 1980, the freighter MV Summit Venture collided with a bridge support during a sudden squall, resulting in the structural collapse of the southbound span and the deaths of 35 people when vehicles plunged into Tampa Bay….Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
| Sunshine Skyway Bridge (former) | |
|---|---|
| Pier construction | Reinforced concrete |
| History |
When was the accident on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge?
May 9, 1980
On one tragic day in 1980, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge would forever be associated with a devastating event. On May 9, 1980, during a driving rainstorm, a freighter crashed into the support columns of the southbound bridge. This caused 1200 feet of the suspended roadway to fall and disappear right into the bay.
Where is John Lerro?
He was 59. Lerro, who spent the rest of his life seeking redemption and peace, died Aug. 31 in Tampa of multiple sclerosis after slipping into a coma earlier that week. “He finally quit being haunted by what happened.
How deep is the water under the Skyway bridge?
about 35 feet deep
According to NOAA navigation charts, the water close to shore is between 1 foot and 10 feet deep, and the water under the middle of the bridge is between 20-25 feet. The deepest water under the bridge is the Mullet Key Channel, which is about 35 feet deep.
How many fatalities were there in the 1980 accident?
Trends
| Number of deaths, crashes and motor vehicles in fatal crashes, 1975-2019 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Deaths | Motor vehicles |
| 1980 | 51,091 | 63,485 |
| 1981 | 49,301 | 62,699 |
| 1982 | 43,945 | 56,455 |
How do dolphins protect the new Sunshine Skyway Bridge?
The concrete dolphins are sunk 30 feet into the bottom of the bay and rise 15 feet above the surface. They are designed to stop a ship, not sink it. “In small collisions, ships will really just bounce off,” Knott said.
Can cruise ships fit under Skyway Bridge?
Here, mega cruise ships cannot fit beneath the Sunshine Skyway bridge. The Skyway can handle cruise ships that measure 180 feet from the top of the waterline. But the mega ships can sit as high as 225 feet above the waterline.